To finish off our virtually non-existent ski season we took a long weekend trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming with my dad.
Knowing that the snow conditions in the Tetons weren’t ideal, our spirits were still high and we were all looking forward to spring skiing, the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort culture, hot tubbing, eating the fine foods that Jackson offers, catching up and just spending time together, and that is just what we got!
Our trip consisted of three full days of skiing at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Alex and I had been to Jackson to ski once before – four years ago with my dad and brother. My dad, on the other hand, is Jackson Hole veteran, having spent quite a bit of time in his late teens ski bumming in Jackson, and made two trips out there last winter. Needless to say, he knows this special mountain very well!
We spent our time skiing the mountain wall to wall seeking out the best conditions. I should preface this by saying that consisted of trying to gauge the exact moment when the snow would turn from ice to a soft, slush, but before it went to absolute mush in order to maximize the conditions.
Thankfully for us we were quite successful in our mission. We enjoyed some really fun soft, spring bumps, along with some cruisin’ groomers while we explored some new areas of the mountain.
When we weren’t skiing it is most likely you would have found us eating somewhere. We ate quite well while we were in Jackson. There is little to be desired in the Jackson Hole restaurant scene. It’s really hard to pick a favorite because we never had a bad meal. Here is where we ate:
- Cafe Genevive – an old cabin in town that prides itself on home-cooking.
- Corbett’s Cabin – located at the top of the tram, a measly 10,000 feet in elevation, Corbett’s Cabin serves waffles with a twist!
- Teton Thai – my dad and Alex’s favorite. Exceptional Thai food and fantastic service.
- Persephone Bakery – best grilled cheese ever?!
- Alpehof – Swiss-style slopeside dining complete with amazing fondue. So good we ate here twice!
- Mangy Moose – you can’t go to Jackson Hole without stopping at the Mangy Moose, an iconic apres ski bar at the base of the mountain.
- The Handle Bar – an apres ski bar that is more my style – this one is located in the Four Seasons and has a lovely patio and beautiful interior.
Another memorable highlight was our day in the town of Jackson. We took one day off to recover and just spend some time in town. The day started at Mountain Man Toy Shop where we got to throw tomahawks. Yes, we got to throw tomahawks.
With full bellies after an amazing lunch at Persephone we headed to the National Elk Refuge, a 25,000 acre prairie just outside town where 8,000 elk call home for much of the year. We did a “sleigh ride” which was more like a wagon ride due to the fact that there was no snow. Either way, it was a true highlight of the trip.
We got up close and personal with the elk and it was extraordinary to see the creatures so close. The refuge has always been home to sleigh rides which has made the elk quite tame and used to people stomping around on their turf, though the guide stressed that if a person was just wandering around on his feet inside the refuge it would be a different story. The tour was very informative and provided a unique experience we all thoroughly enjoyed.
In the end, we all had a wonderful time and shared a lot of great ski runs, apres drinks, sunshine and made many new memories. Until next time, Jackson, until next time…
